Let's be honest about ICP.
It's juvenile minded music targeted at the age group between 13-16. The lyrics are lowbrow, albeit effective in humor/entertainment for the age group
target. The "beats" are simple and grove well enough.
The thing is, kids start listening to this group and realize they have become part of a club more or less. Juggalos, juggalettes, ninjas, etc etc,
whatever they want to call it, it's a club, a branding that they can associate with. Being a part of something, being a piece of a group, a movement,
club...it makes for decent record/merch sales and a loyal fanbase. It's effective.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate these kids. I was that age too, and angst is powerful. While I went off to the metal scene, others gravitated to
rap. ICP however, have found this median where the two meet, rap with more gore/dark/horror themes, and a comedic aspect, and it's smart for them.
The problem is, at least I see it as a problem(we have free will, people are who they are and like what they like) that people don't grow out of it.
They take the group vastly too seriously, and take this club they are a part of the same way.
Now, I imagine that most would grow out of this phase, this thought process, but some don't. It's not like someone who really likes this or that
group/genre, it's like ICP, one group, 2 guys, is a HUGE part of their lives. It literally seems like they are brainwashed. I've actually had
conversation with so called jug/ninja's in their 30's+, you get to talking with them, no mention of music, ICP and bam, they just start laying down
the ICP gospal out of nowhere, and don't stop.
In my experience, I haven't met a major ICP fan who I could call "intelligent". Every one, again, in my experience, could well be termed a
mouthbreather along with juggalo. People who are about as sharp as a bowling ball and easily susceptible to outside influence. Of course you could say
the same about alot of people who get way deep into various interests and ideals, such as religion(zing!).
What i'm getting at here is ICP, to what end I don't know, are marketing geniuses. Whatever it is they do, it strikes some people. And when those
people find out they can be a part of this group, gang, club whatever you want to call it, they dive in head first, and even though their brain is
drowning, they feel content to be part of something.
FBI, right or wrong for targeting this group and these individuals, seem to have a valid reason in my opinion, of course, they could easily choose a
few other groups and movements to look at with the same level of validity.
Not ment to offend any fans of the music, or friends of juggalos, it's just that I see this group and it's fans as a little more than out of touch(and
really, aren't we all in one way or another?) with reality, and seek their guidance from a couple of buffoons who know how to market themselves quite
well.
edit on 30-9-2012 by FrostForests because: (no reason given)